1. What is Exposure Management?

Start by defining Exposure Management (EM) as the ongoing process of identifying, understanding, and mitigating vulnerabilities across an organization's IT infrastructure. It is shift from traditional, static approaches to the continuous and proactive nature of CTEM. Benefits of CTEM, like improved security posture, reduced risk of breaches, and better resource allocation.

2. Components of Exposure Management:

Scoping: Define the scope of your assessment, covering assets, attack vectors, and risk tolerance.
Discovery: Identify all assets, vulnerabilities, and misconfigurations through vulnerability scans, penetration testing, and asset discovery tools.
Prioritization: Evaluate the discovered vulnerabilities based on their severity, exploitability, and potential impact.
Remediation: Implement fixes for high-priority vulnerabilities and track progress.
Validation: Verify the effectiveness of remediation efforts and repeat the cycle continuously.
 

3. Operationalising Exposure Management:

Integrate CTEM tools with existing security solutions.
Automate vulnerability scanning and patching processes.
Assign roles and duties to stakeholders clearly.
Encourage a culture of ongoing development and security awareness.

4. Exposure Management through your lens:

Ideal teams for Exposure Management (CTEM) are cross-functional and consist of members from various departments, each bringing their unique expertise to the table. Here's a breakdown of key roles and the benefits they contribute:

Core Team:

Security Operations Center (SOC) analysts: Monitor security posture, analyze alerts, and identify potential threats.
Vulnerability Management specialists: Conduct vulnerability scans, prioritize vulnerabilities, and track remediation progress.
Security Architects: Design and implement security controls, assess attack vectors, and recommend security best practices.
IT Operations teams: Install security patches, remediate vulnerabilities, and manage IT infrastructure.
Application Security specialists: Review code for vulnerabilities, perform security testing, and secure development practices.
Threat Intelligence analysts: Analyze threat trends, keep team informed about emerging threats, and prioritize risks.
 

Additional Support:

Business Continuity & Disaster Recovery (BCDR) team: Collaborate on incident response plans and ensure business continuity in case of an attack.
Legal & Compliance teams: Ensure compliance with regulations and legal requirements related to data security.
Risk Management team: Quantify cyber risk, assess business impact, and allocate resources effectively.
Executive Management: Provide necessary resources, support security culture, and make strategic decisions based on CTEM insights.

Benefits of Cross-functional Teams:

Improved communication and collaboration: Different teams share information and work together towards a common goal.
Better understanding of vulnerabilities and risks: Each team provides its own perspective, leading to a more comprehensive understanding of the threat landscape.
Faster and more effective remediation: Collaboration leads to quicker identification and resolution of vulnerabilities.
More strategic decision-making: Sharing insights from various departments results in well-informed security investments and decisions.

Additional Points:

The size and composition of the CTEM team will vary depending on the organization's size, industry, and risk profile.
Clear roles and responsibilities are crucial for team effectiveness.
Regular communication and collaboration are essential for success.
Training and awareness programs are crucial for all team members involved in CTEM.

By building a cross-functional team with the right expertise and fostering collaboration, you can create a robust and effective Exposure Management program that minimizes risks and protects your organization.

5. Exposure Management maturation:

Achieving CTEM maturity involves a journey of continuous improvement. Here are some crucial actions that you can do:

1. Assess your current state:

Evaluate your existing vulnerability management processes, tools, and team structure.
Identify gaps in your current approach, such as limited visibility, slow remediation times, or lack of automation.
Understand your risk tolerance and industry compliance requirements.
 

2. Define your target maturity level:

Research different CTEM maturity models, such as the Gartner model or Forrester Wave.
Choose a model that aligns with your organization's size, industry, and goals.
Define the key attributes of your desired maturity level, like real-time visibility, automated remediation, or integration with threat intelligence.

3. Develop a roadmap and action plan:

Outline the steps you need to take to reach your target maturity level.
Prioritize projects according to their potential impact and viability.
Allocate resources and budget for technology, training, and personnel.

4. Implement key initiatives:

Invest in tools that automate vulnerability scanning, patching, and reporting.
Integrate CTEM with other security platforms for a holistic view.
Build a dedicated CTEM team with the necessary skills and expertise.
Clearly state what each stakeholder's obligations and roles are.

5. Continuously monitor and improve:

Track key metrics like vulnerability backlog, remediation rates, and time to detection.
Conduct regular reviews to assess progress and identify areas for improvement. Encourage a mindset of ongoing education and development among your group members.
Stay updated on emerging threats and adapt your CTEM program accordingly.

Additional tips:

Seek guidance from experienced CTEM professionals or consultants.
Participate in industry forums and communities to learn from others.
Leverage industry best practices and frameworks to guide your implementation.
Remember, CTEM is an ongoing process, not a one-time project.

By following these steps and continually working towards improvement, you can achieve true CTEM maturity and significantly enhance your organization's security posture.

Use Cases:

Compliance and Regulatory Requirements: Many industries have regulations requiring continuous assessments of security posture. CTEM helps fulfill these requirements by providing ongoing vulnerability management and reporting.
Prioritization of Security Investments: By quantifying and ranking vulnerabilities, CTEM helps organizations prioritize remediation efforts and allocate resources towards the most critical issues.
Threat Hunting and Proactive Defense: CTEM provides a constant stream of vulnerability data that can be used to identify emerging threats and proactively harden defenses.
Improving Incident Response: Continuous exposure management helps identify compromised assets and vulnerabilities exploited during an incident, enabling faster and more effective response.
M&A Due Diligence: CTEM helps assess the security posture of potential acquisition targets, identifying risks and potential liabilities.
Supply Chain Security: CTEM can be used to monitor vulnerabilities in third-party vendors and partners, minimizing risks associated with their security failures.

References:

Picus Security: What Is Continuous Threat Exposure Management (CTEM)? https://www.picussecurity.com/resource/blog/implement-and-improve-a-continuous-threat-exposure-management-ctem-program
Gartner: Continuous Threat Exposure Management (CTEM) https://www.gartner.com/en/articles/how-to-manage-cybersecurity-threats-not-episodes
Forrester Research: The Forrester New Wave™: Continuous Threat Exposure Management (CTEM), Q1 2023 https://www.forrester.com/research/product-management/
Palo Alto Networks: Continuous Threat Exposure Management (CTEM): A Comprehensive Guide https://docs.paloaltonetworks.com/pan-os/10-1/pan-os-admin/firewall-administration/management-interfaces
McAfee: The State of Cybercrime 2023 https://www.mcafee.com/de-ch/consumer-corporate/newsroom/press-releases/press-release.html?news_id=6859bd8c-9304-4147-bdab-32b35457e629
Ponemon Institute: 2023 Cost of a Data Breach Report https://www.ponemon.org/